doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com New Flues Cocking Lever Bent Again

In the scenario which I described above, it is not the cocking lever which contacts wood. Rather it is the rear of the striker, or hammer, which does, as it is being rotated backwards by the cocking lever.

Dan,

I took your advice and removed metal from the tail piece to match the original and then took a bit more off since the original was bent, too. I left the slight bend in the new lever thinking if I went too far straightening it would save my butt. I think I have it fitted now so that it cocks just as the limit of travel is reached. The opening/cocking seems noticeably easier and smoother now.

Thanks for the tip.

Phil

Phil,

Awesome, glad to hear it!

I've seen many functioning Flues guns with slightly bent levers so you will probably be OK. Did the seller of the new lever say what kind of steel he made them from? If you want to have a go at straightening the lever, rehardening and tempering it send me an email. I'll talk you through it.

But sometimes, if things are working, they're better off left alone! A bent lever is better than a broken one!

Best regards, Dan

Thanks, Dan.

The person I purchased the lever from said that it was hardened but not to the level Ithaca did, which he feels made the part too brittle. It is working so maybe I'll just let things ride for awhile. But I may be getting back to you in the future.... :-)

Phil

Operating from memory here but two things to keep in mind should you get the cocking lever Too Loose.
First you may get firing pin drag from the hammers being delated in their start to cock.
Second, even worsr, as I recall upon the hammers reching full cock the cocking lever serves as the bbl check. If the bbls rotation is not stopped by the lever then the lower edge of the forend iron will strike the frame bottom. This puts tremendous stress upon the forend lug & could eventually lead to the solder joint being sheared. I have seen this on a hammer gun which did not have a check.

Thanks, 2-piper. I'll check both. I'm pretty sure the FE iron isn't contacting the frame but I'm not sure about the firing pin drag as I haven't fired any shells since I made the adjustment.

Phil